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• 80.4- Yes, my auntie Marlene who raised me for the first six years of my life. She died very suddenly and unexpectedly when I was nine. She'd had a tough life, a rough marriage and was only thirty-six when she died. She is the person I miss on my big days in life- wedding, birth of the girls and the day I held my first copy of EU. She would have been so proud. I never felt less than loved and safe when I lived with her, even though at times we lived under rather precarious circumstances. She gifted me with a love of reading too. I wish I could tell her how much she meant to me and how much I carry her with me each and every day of my life. (NT) -- celtgirl, 22:29:22 10/29/07 Mon
  • I just wanted to add that I think our childhoods can be something that haunts our present in a variety of ways. (NT) -- celtgirl, 22:36:53 10/29/07 Mon
  • A lovely tribute to Marlene. We're all grateful to her for instilling in you a love for reading, which undoubtedly led to your love of writing. And that's what brought us all together. (NT) -- Elaine, 09:31:54 10/30/07 Tue

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• Chapter 80 1) Absolute horror and disbelief. I felt such overwhelming grief for him. I was none too pleased with the author, either, although I do understand that she has to take the story where it needs to go. It just felt like too much to bear on top of Lawrence's death. 2) For me, it meant it was time to pay the price that so many others in N.I. had paid of losing someone you love to violence and hatred. 3) I wasn't really. This is something so personal and so intimate that I can't imagine sharing it with someone outside the relationship. I think Pamela also knows that this is not something Jamie can make better for her or help with in any real way. He can't heal either of their pain and his involvement certainly wouldn't inspire Casey to come back home. 4) I'm fortunate in that I haven't lost anyone who is a part of my daily life. My Nan died two years ago, but she hadn't been part of my regular life for many years ... -- Carla, 06:25:07 10/30/07 Tue
  • Well now snoopy little minds want to know what you're talking about there girl. :) (NT) -- cg-on the run out the door, 07:40:59 10/30/07 Tue
  • Truly understand this dynamic of having a specific time of year affect you more than others, Carla. We see it coming and are powerless to stop the grief, or at least that's how it feels to me. (NT) -- Elaine, 09:24:15 10/30/07 Tue
  • 80-1) I agree with you about the total shock and disbelief regarding Sylvie's death. I think I might have said something like, "How could you do this to us again, Cindy? You're killing me!" (NT) -- Denise, 11:33:40 10/30/07 Tue
    • yea me too! And like I said earlier- besides the devastation to Pat- it hit Jamie really hard and I already ache for that puir man. (NT) -- susiej, 12:35:41 10/30/07 Tue

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• Chapter 81 1) I think I'd be none too happy with him for doing things which put Sylvie in harms way, but coming from Derry they may see Sylvie's death as one of the hazards of life in N.I. and not really blame Pat. We don't really know them, so it's hard to say how they'd react. 2) Pat obviously feels he has nothing to lose right now, so maintaining a friendship with David can't hurt him any more than it already has. Also, Pat is a big boy, he's grown up in this environment and he knows the price to be paid for involvement in politics and social policy and unless he's willing to change his whole life and leave Belfast, this is the reality he's going to have to face on a regular basis. On the subject of "Danny Boy" I have to say this is one of my favourite Irish songs. Sean McCann of Great Big Sea does a stunning a cappella version on the DVD "Courage and Patience and Grit". Unfortunately, it isn't on the accompanying CD. (NT) -- Carla, 06:30:50 10/30/07 Tue
  • I think along the same lines as Carla about Sylvie's family. I am sure they loved Pat- who wouldn't? And knew that Sylvie chose him with her eyes open. And though they are angry and upset- they have lived in the face of this violence. They know it is not based on reason. So I would hope they wouldn't blame Pat, but grief is not logical. (NT) -- susiej, 08:02:09 10/30/07 Tue

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• 80-1) I felt completely blindsided. When Pat realized the caller wasn't legit and started for the door. All I could think was "Oh shit". I was totally stunned. 80-3) I was kind of surprised that Pamela hadn't told Jamie, but I was proud of her for not running to him. I was more surprised by the fact that Jamie didn't already know anyway. He seems to have eyes and ears everywhere! (NT) -- Lisser, 09:16:41 10/30/07 Tue

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• 80.3) From my viewpoint, this provided a clear indication that Pamela does not rely on Jamie to pick up the pieces during/after a crisis. If there was ever a low point for the woman, it would be here, and yet she relied solely on her own inner strength and resolve to see her through. Imho, anyway. (NT) -- Elaine, 09:26:19 10/30/07 Tue
  • (Not logged in, so cannot edit - drat.) The operative word in the above is 'rely.' Jamie may indeed appear on the scene messiah-like, but on those occasions it's the result of his motivation, not her coercion. The exception would be the abortion in EU. Not sure to whom she might have turned at that time except forJamie. (NT) -- Elaine, 09:30:01 10/30/07 Tue
  • 80.2) It seemed to mean the butcher (IRA) needed recompense (revenge) and payment-in-kind was the only acceptable currency (human life). My take was that the IRA knew who was responsible for killing two of the three involved in attempting to execute David. It was just circumstance that prevented them from killing both Pat and Sylvie at one time because it happened on a Sunday, and the newlyweds, probably being closely watched, would be going to Jamie's as usual. (NT) -- Elaine, 14:09:36 10/30/07 Tue

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• 81.2) It's a real tightrope. Mostly I see disadvantages to maintaining a friendship with David. Surely the IRA and other factions would be opposed to it; we all know how they'd tackle this problem. If David's superiors suddenly deem it undesirable, both men are likely doomed. Still, to have a close relationship with someone from the other side ~ someone who actually seems to understand both sides of the conflict ~ might prove to be very valuable, totally aside from David's loyalty to Pat (even if he would wish the relationship to be deeper than that). The web is becoming decidedly more complex as we learn that David and Jamie have a socio-political connection. (NT) -- Elaine, 10:20:00 10/30/07 Tue

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• 80-2) The people of Ireland must pay for the actions of the few. And Pat is paying for his actions too. As the old adage goes - when you play with fire, expect to get burnt. (80-3) It doesn't surprise me that Pamela has not gone to Jamie with her problems regarding Casey. She knows that she has relied on him heavily in the past, and it has not been fair to Jamie. She know that he loves her but cannot express it fully and this intimate contact is painful. It's not fair to herself either to expect Jamie to clean up her messes and solve her problems. She's strong enough to deal with it, and so she does. (80-4) Yes, I have a few ghosts that weigh heavily on my mind at times, but I'm not talking. (NT) -- Denise, 11:43:57 10/30/07 Tue

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• 1. I just kept crying "no, no, no, not Sylvie". I had a funny feeling in my stomach when their day started and I thought to myself that it was so nice that it seemed like a peaceful day that they could enjoy and just relax for a while away from the fight. It was only a short intermission between ugly cries for me and the author seemed to take pleasure in that. *wink* (NT) -- Tracy, 13:24:40 10/30/07 Tue
  • Me too Tracy - I could barely see the words to finish the chapter. I never had any warning though, no funny feeling, no clue..I was shocked. (NT) -- Marilyn, 14:33:44 10/30/07 Tue

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• 2. I think the title means that the butcher is calling in what's due to him and Sylvie and Pat had to pay, both with their lives but in different ways. (NT) -- Tracy, 13:26:30 10/30/07 Tue

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• 80.3) Maybe because she would have to explain to Jamie why Casey left. Maybe she didn't want to risk him being disappointed in her as well. I agree with Carla too this is very personal and relying on Jamie to help her through it wouldn't help matters with Casey. (NT) -- Marilyn, 14:58:36 10/30/07 Tue

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• Somewhere in here there was a lump forming in my gut, just knowing there was another wallop waiting, and I was expecting Pat to be honest. I think Pamela knows Jamie will help in the external problems in her life, just as Casey might but this is a very internal and intimate and to go to Jamie now, would split the wound wider I think, not just for her. If Casey knew she had run straight to Jamie, nothing positive would come from that. (NT) -- Sheila, 15:00:11 10/30/07 Tue

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• I was totally shocked when Sylvie got killed, but not totally surprised that it happened,,,, just how. That was really sad. (NT) -- bug, 16:57:38 10/30/07 Tue

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• I don't mean to torment you dear readers, but somehow it just happens. ;) (NT) -- celtgirl, 18:44:32 10/30/07 Tue